Man pleads guilty to assaulting rival youth football team coach

By
Vince Sullivan, Delaware County Daily Times

Monday, March 31, 2014

MEDIA COURTHOUSE — A Delaware youth football coach pleaded guilty Monday afternoon on charges he punched a rival coach in the face after an on-field altercation. He was sentenced to two years of probation, community service and ordered to pay restitution of nearly $150,000.

Lawrence P. Simpson, 41, of Claymont, Del., pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of simple assault for the Oct. 12, 2013, incident on the football field at Chichester Middle School, where he struck Chichester Crusaders coach Lamar Shaw in the face.

A felony charge of aggravated assault and another count of reckless endangerment against Simpson were dismissed as part of Monday’s negotiated plea.

Shaw suffered a broken jaw from the attack and has incurred nearly $150,000 in medical expenses in the months since.

“My intentions started off as wanting to coach football,” Shaw said to Common Pleas Judge John P. Capuzzi Sr. “I never wanted to see anybody in any type of conflict. It’s just not who I am.”

Shaw said the incident, aside from injuring him, set a bad example for the dozens of children who witnessed it. He was hopeful that completing the legal proceedings would illustrate the lessons he and his fellow coaches have tried to impart on the young men on the team.

“We teach our players to be responsible for your actions and be accountable,” Shaw said. “I’ve had medical bills over $100,000. I’ve had to have my jaw rebroken. I’m dealing with this every day.”

Simpson addressed the court and expressed “deep sympathy” for Shaw.

“This is not my character,” Simpson said. “I’ve never been kicked out of a game in my years of coaching. I feel that I did not set a good example for the kids I’ve coached for 23 years.”

Capuzzi, who told the defendant he has been involved in youth sports for more than 30 years, said the attacked undermined the intent of sports leagues.

“I’ve unfortunately seen too many coaches lose their cool, to put it politely,” Capuzzi said. “It’s not a good situation for the kids. It sets a bad, bad precedent. The purpose of youth sports is to give these kids an outlet to keep them off the street and teach them discipline ... These kinds of actions show a lack of discipline.”

As part of the plea agreement, Simpson will serve 24 months of intermediate punishment, a type of probation where individuals are subject to strict guidelines and conditions. The first three months of his sentence, Simpson will be under electronic home monitoring. He must also complete an anger management program and complete 32 hours of community service.

Simpson was ordered to pay restitution for Shaw’s medical bills totalling $144,150, less the amount covered by Shaw’s insurance policy. Simpson also was ordered to not have any inappropriate contact with Shaw.

Shaw’s attorney, Christopher J. Heavens, is involved with the Chichester Crusaders football program and said after the agreement that the organization would be looking into the Claymont Falcons’ liability policy.

“We hope to be able to have the Claymont Falcons insurance company pay (Shaw’s) bills,” Heavens said.

Simpson has a criminal record that includes previous assault and drug convictions, and Heavens believes that a standard background check would have found those convictions, barring him from coaching and preventing the attack on Shaw.

“We feel they were negligent in that regard and should step up and cover his medical bills,” Heavens said.

Shaw declined to comment after the plea agreement was completed and directed inquiries to Heavens.